Grant Evan Cottam

September 8, 1922 - November 16, 2016

Grant Evan Cottam - born September 8, 1922, in Vernal, Utah - died November 16, 2016, in Provo, Utah. Grant Evan Cottam was born in his grandmother's house in Naples, Utah on September 8, 1922. His mother, Sarah Ellen Manwaring Cottam, had taken her children to Vernal to spend the summer with her family, the Manwarings. When Grant was old enough to travel they went back to their home in Bunkerville, Nevada, where his father, Charles Walter Cottam, was a school teacher. His early years were spent in Bunkerville, Price, and St. George, Utah with his eight brothers and sisters. His earliest memory is of seeing the lights as the family went up over a knoll and into St. George when he was only two years old. He loved to tell the story of traveling by horse and wagon and stopping half way between their ranch on Smith Mountain and their home in St. George, Utah to camp by the Virgin River. His mother surprised him when she came around the wagon with a birthday cake for his 6th birthday. It was his last memory of her on her feet. She had a weak heart and cancer and died when he was nine. In his own words: “she used to put cayenne pepper on my tongue if I used an improper word. She encouraged me to do a good job with my chores by telling me, and everyone, what a good job I had done. Her lessons have helped me turn out reasonably well.” He slept in a screened-in porch under two old quilts sandwiching old clothes for warmth in the winter. Their bathroom was the standard “outhouse”, and the toilet paper was old catalogs. The refrigerator was an old orange crate nailed to a tree trunk with a gunny sack hanging over the open face. All day long during the summer, Alvin and he herded their cows as they grazed along ditches and streams. They did a lot of rock climbing, swinging in trees, swimming in ditches and ponds as the cows grazed. They collected bird eggs and played with cans as toy wagons, bones as toy horses and cows, and fruit pits as turkeys, chickens and baby chicks. They played with the neighborhood kids almost every night in the main intersection (cars were few and far between), under the street light. He played Kick-the-Can, Prisoner’s Base, Hide-and-Seek, Red Rover and Touch Football. “We didn’t think of ourselves as poor, but we didn’t eat well or dress well or have any luxuries. Christmas was 1 Orange, 1 nut, 1 piece of hard tack candy for each of us. No presents. I did not complain too loudly – I didn’t turn out too badly. Looking back, I know God helped me along the way.” “I attended the old ‘red prison,’ Woodward Elementary, most of my early years. I remember going to the first grade with holes in my bib overalls, and barefooted. People often complained because I generally walked to school in the winter without a coat. You can’t wear what you don’t have.” He herded goats in the mountains west of St. George, worked at a mining camp northwest of St. George, worked in the fields in Overton, Nevada and worked at Verd’s in Orem. He graduated from Dixie High School in 1940, and then graduated from Dixie Jr. College. He majored in Drama, acting, directing, managing the stage, and doing makeup. About this time his father remarried and 4 more siblings were added to his family! He went to work in Gabbs, Nevada at a defense plant and there met Virginia. They were engaged on Valentine’s Day and marryied while on furlough after he was drafted. He served in India 2 years in a railroad shop battalion. “We ate and slept with our rifles, but never had any ammunition for them.” Returning from the war to his wife and small son, they moved around, had a daughter and eventually settled in Reno, Nevada, where he worked as a carpenter and his last son was born. Grant began working for the Carpenter's Joint Apprenticeship Committee, overseeing the training of apprentices, then deciding to make a career change, moved to Walnut Creek, California. He went back to school at U C Berkeley while working as a carpenter. Diablo Jr. College hired him to teach apprenticeship classes part-time and later hired him to set up a construction technology class. While employed for DVC he went back to college at San Francisco State, receiving a bachelor’s degree and a special secondary Vocational Class A Credential in Trade and Industrial and Public Service Education. Grant and Virginia moved to a lovely home in Benicia, California, overlooking the Strait. Grant became a member of the bishopric in Benicia, working with the Primary, Sunday School, and the music in the ward. Later he was on the Stake High Council and then again back in the Benicia bishopric. After retirement the family moved to Provo, Utah in 1990 and then moved to his last home in Orem. Enjoy the following thoughts he expressed during the last few years of his life: “When I was about 28 I opened the Bible one night to John 13:34 ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’ I have tried to do that ever since. At work I always did quality work. At school I spent extra time and effort.” “Life has been very good to me, so I have learned to look for opportunities to care and share.” “My testimony to you: I know God, our Heavenly Father lives. I love him, and I know he loves me. I often thank Him for this beautiful earth, the lakes, the mountains, the sunsets, the clouds, shapes, colors, and for the beautiful people I get to associate with. I know Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lives. I love Him and I know he loves me. He is our advocate with God. He is our Teacher, our Example, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Brother, and our Friend. I know the Holy Ghost has been a help to me throughout my life. He is our Comforter, our Guide, and our Companion.” “I love each and every one of my children and their spouses, and every one of my grandchildren and their spouses, and every one of my great grandchildren. I ask my posterity to remember God and keep his commandments. Remember Jesus and follow his example. Remember your ancestors and your heritage. Stay close to your family. Care and share. Stay close to the church, serve and bless and help those in need. Follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Continue my support of girl’s and women’s sports and activities.” “Some of my favorite songs: ‘Younger than Springtime,’ ‘Abide With Me: ‘Tis Eventide’ (hymn 165), ‘Danny Boy,’ ‘I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen,’ ‘A Little Bit of Heaven,’ ‘Shenandoah,’ ‘Galloway Bay’ ‘An Irish Lullaby,’ ‘Autumn Leaves,’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ and ‘Lord, I Would Follow Thee.’” His counsel to us: “Be kind, understanding and helpful to everyone in need. Everyone needs love; some are ill, some are discouraged, some are lonely, and some are old. It is well to remember that there are broken hearts and wounded souls among us that need the tender loving care of one who has an understanding heart. Be compassionate, and help the seeds of compassion grow by putting yourself in someone else’s place to learn to help and understand them, rather than judge them.” Grant was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many capacities and brightening lives with his generosity and humor. He was proceeded in death by his wife Virginia and both parents, as well as, his brothers, Rulon, Ray, LaVell, Alvin and Donald and his sisters Ellen, Mildred, Verda. He is survived by his brother William (Elizabeth) Cottam, sisters Emily (Gary) Godfrey, Mary Alice Carter, Cathy Stucki and sister-in-law Carol Cottam, as well as, his sons Grant (Susan) Cottam, Spencer (Pamela) Cottam and daughter Lynda (Victor Sorensen). He has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Monday, November 21st, at 12:00 noon, at the Cherry Hill 7th Ward, 135 East 2000 South, Orem, Utah, where a Viewing will be held prior to services from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Interment in Orem City Cemetery, 1520 South 800 East, Orem, Utah. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.